Thoas Swallowtail
Papilio thoas Linnaeus, 1771
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of forewing has diagonal yellow band of square spots in a neat row.
Wing Span: 4 1/8 - 5 inches (10.5 - 12.8 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars resemble bird droppings and rest exposed on leaves.
Flight: Year-round in the tropics, April-July in south Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) including Citrus spp., prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata); six species in the Piperaceae family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar, including lantana, cesalpina, and bougainvilla.
Habitat: Mid-elevation tropical forests and lowland edges.
Range: South Texas south to Brazil. Very rare stray into Kansas and Oklahoma.
Conservation: Not needed in the United States.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None in the United States.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 60 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Mar 05, 2019
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Mar 10, 2016
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 22, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panamá Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 28, 2013
Submitted by: riemensc
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Feb 20, 2012
Submitted by: DJHiker
Region: Limon, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022
Observation date: Jan 20, 2020
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Dec 26, 2019
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2008
Submitted by: sobrien
Region: Darién Province, Panama
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Oct 04, 2013
Observation date: May 12, 2012
Submitted by: jeanie.in.south...
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jun 23, 2012
Observation date: May 09, 2011
Submitted by: jdupton
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jul 15, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (F.R. Hedges, Paul Opler)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Jim Ebner)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 15, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 03, 2007
Observation date: Oct 17, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Overton, Paul Opler)
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Mike Overton)
Verified date: Oct 03, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sedgwick County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Coahuila De Zaragoza, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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